Chapter 78 of 100
Chapter 78
8 min read2,112 words
Chapter Thirty-Four: I'm Sorry, We're Closing
Fang Bin finally accepted the cigarette offered by Sun Fat. Sun Fat then lit it for him.
"Mr. Sun, what's this all about? We're simple people, we don't play mind games. If there's something, just say it straight. Don't make me guess, okay?" Fang Bin took a deep puff, looking at Sun Fat's fat, sweaty face, feeling a sense of satisfaction. It turns out that even Sun Fat has to beg for something.
"Mr. Fang, this... this... I've caused you a lot of trouble recently, and it has resulted in significant losses for your restaurant. Today, I'm here to apologize. Mr. Fang, you're a big man, you can swallow a ship in your belly, so please don't hold a grudge against a small person like me. Okay?" Sun Fat said with a forced smile. As soon as he received the message from Deputy Mayor Cheng, he rushed over, hoping to pacify the Fang family before Li Dongxing and the others arrived.
"Mr. Sun, what are you saying? If you, who control the life and death of our restaurant, are a small person, then what are we, who have no power or influence? A bunch of ants?" Fang Bin said irritably.
"Mr. Fang, that's not what I meant, please don't misunderstand!" Sun Fat was startled and quickly said. Although he didn't know what had happened, Deputy Mayor Cheng's urgent order to pacify the Fang family must mean something big. If he failed to complete the task and displeased Deputy Mayor Cheng, his low-ranking official position would be gone. Despite being just a minor official in the town's health inspection department, not even a formal civil servant, he still had a decent income in Hai Zhuang Town.
Sun Fat, with a pained expression, pleaded, "Mr. Fang, we've been doing business for a long time, haven't I been fair to you, Mr. Fang?"
"Fair to me?" Fang Bin raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it just about what happened a few days ago? I was blinded by greed and acted foolishly. I caused you a lot of losses, Mr. Fang. Just tell me the amount, and I'll pay it, I'll pay it, okay?" Sun Fat begged. Deputy Mayor Cheng had given a strict order to pacify the Fang family and prevent them from speaking ill of the town in front of the new county magistrate. If the Fang family said anything inappropriate, Deputy Mayor Cheng would not spare Sun Fat. Although Sun Fat cursed Deputy Mayor Cheng in his heart, he didn't dare to delay in carrying out the task.
"Compensation? Can you compensate for the damage to my restaurant's reputation?" Fang Bin almost blurted out. But after years of experience, he knew that before the truth was revealed, it was unnecessary to say things that left no room for maneuver.
Fang Bin remained noncommittal, and as time passed, Sun Fat became increasingly anxious.
"Uncle, how's the preparation going? County Magistrate Li and the others will be here soon!" Fang Mingyuan called from outside the door, "You need to keep an eye on the kitchen, don't let anything go wrong!"
Hearing this, Fang Bin stood up and smiled, "Mr. Sun, this banquet represents the town welcoming County Magistrate Li. I need to go to the kitchen to make sure nothing goes wrong and to maintain the reputation of Hai Zhuang Town. Please stay here, I'll go check." With that, he ignored Sun Fat's pleading and rushed to the kitchen.
"Oh!" Sun Fat stomped his feet in frustration but didn't dare to follow him into the kitchen, as that would only make Fang Bin angrier.
Fang Mingyuan lifted the curtain and walked in. He had seen Sun Fat from outside and didn't even bother to acknowledge him, the collaborator. He directly called a few waiters to set up the private rooms on the second floor.
Sun Fat paced around the restaurant like an ant on a hot pan, hesitating whether to enter the kitchen or not. Just then, a series of footsteps came from outside, and several town government staff members and Zhao Jianguo rushed in. As soon as Zhao Jianguo entered, he shouted, "Fang Bin, Fang Bin! The county magistrate and the others are about to arrive, quickly go out to welcome them!"
Fang Bin, Zhao Jianguo, and the town government staff had just taken their positions at the door when County Magistrate Li and his entourage arrived.
Zhao Jianguo led the group into the restaurant. The private rooms on the second floor were reserved for the leaders and the county officials, while the town officials dined downstairs. Sun Fat stood in a corner, his face pale and tense.
Once everyone was seated, the waiters began serving the dishes like butterflies.
Li Dongxing looked around and smiled, "No wonder this restaurant is well-known in the county. Without even considering the taste of the food, just the decor of the private rooms and the service level of the waiters make it hard to believe this is just a town restaurant. Even the famous restaurants in Pingchuan County are no better."
Everyone naturally agreed.
Deputy Factory Manager Lu smiled, "They are not only attentive in service, but their dishes are also delicious. Otherwise, how could they attract people from the county to dine here?"
County Magistrate Li looked at the table and smiled, "We still have official duties this afternoon, so everyone should drink according to their capacity. I will only have one cup to thank everyone for their hard work this year." Everyone agreed and drank their cups of wine. As County Magistrate Li started eating, everyone followed, but with the new county magistrate present, no one dared to play drinking games or tell jokes. Everyone was somewhat restrained.
When County Magistrate Li put down his chopsticks and picked up his teacup again, there was still nearly half of the other dishes left, but the two plates of fish head baozi were almost empty. This was even with the town leaders intentionally controlling their appetites.
Fang Bin and Fang Mingyuan entered with smiles, greeted everyone, and then said, "Our restaurant is simple and our service is inadequate, not comparable to the large restaurants in the county. If there is anything that displeases the leaders, please bear with us."
Li Dongxing put down his teacup and smiled, "Mr. Fang, your fish head baozi is indeed well-deserved. It not only has a lingering aftertaste but also stimulates the appetite. Do you have any plans to open a restaurant in the county? That way, if I want to eat it in the future, I won't have to travel dozens of miles to Hai Zhuang Town."
"Uncle Li, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed!" Fang Bin hadn't even spoken, but Fang Mingyuan had already interjected.
"Huh? Why?" Li Dongxing was puzzled. Who in business doesn't want to expand? Do they plan to stay in Hai Zhuang Town forever? As he spoke, he didn't notice that Deputy Mayor Cheng's face had changed.
"Because our family has decided to close the restaurant after today. I've already asked the kitchen to prepare an extra serving of fish head baozi for each of the leaders as a token of our gratitude before closing the restaurant."
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